[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6460428,"mediaKeyId","5862316-98e9e36bb25ef352127a26f1b246e20f","parentId",5862316,"title","St. Mary’s schools begin a countywide redistricting process; first community forums set for late September","audioSeconds",717,"startMs",1520000,"endMs",2237000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5862316-98e9e36bb25ef352127a26f1b246e20f&start=1520&end=2237","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5862316-98e9e36bb25ef352127a26f1b246e20f/thumbnail_1520000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6460428/Maryland/St-Marys-schools-begin-a-countywide-redistricting-process-first-community-forums-set-for-late-September","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6460428-796527664c9598d62e54df3d9114c759/orig.mp4?Expires=1770572012&Signature=ZVf57P8q2JCtl5PKPjd3eCYVhImXR9KLd9al2tSVC5BUGCJqLVNdmdicU~o5ocg~hURvsudMH44hZpvV15kEMGKJ3NUlzUp3B6IuofTmhKLPNcgcGpwkJxYA-KyUsx74jwHCgejCrfkVPm2Z0cHujESZaJuCAAu3Nyo--RkvOLinF4hf~hYdAs6xjbMOwEy618NFMNR1rNKKtF6uT0cnPxVoq5spT34UEs-KDw3L62eHkbfpBtaHC5tDWDxhywGGcs-ib5kUSnqPXZmP5510pvnr9IKpM4VYrMliuMTpyazl5M6ScyCHJLbDJx9e-2r~G-Dcz66J3kkomQ6Pw1WCqA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","St. Mary's County Public Schools","date","2025-09-25T11:33:35Z","article","St. Mary’s County Public Schools officials on Sept. 24 announced the start of a multi-step facility utilization and school boundary (redistricting) process and urged residents to attend community forums this week and respond to forthcoming surveys.

District leaders said CannonDesign has been retained to analyze enrollment, capacity and building-use data, and that community engagement will shape guiding principles before any options are developed. Mr. Watson and Ms. Howe, co-chairs of the effort, said the first community forums — scheduled for Thursday and Friday evenings — are designed as guided, interactive activities led by the contractor, not as public-comment hearings.

Those forums will present preliminary data and use table-based activities to collect feedback, officials said. CannonDesign is working from a dataset provided by the district; officials said the contractor has received “probably 50 to 60 data inquiries” and is still processing information. The district plans to record the opening presentations, post a summary of the breakout activities on the SMCPS website, and publish the PowerPoint used at the sessions.

District officials said community interest has been strong: nearly 200 people signed up for the first forum, requiring an additional session, and the additional session is nearing capacity. A community survey will go live after the first forum and remain open through Oct. 6; a second, more detailed round of community forums and a second survey are scheduled in November, with registration for that round opening Oct. 13. Officials said final options developed from data and public input would be presented to the superintendent and the board in January, with a public hearing and potential board action anticipated in March 2026 if proposals move forward.

Why it matters: the review will feed a 10-year planning horizon. Officials said the process is intended to ensure efficient use of buildings and to respond to community priorities before any proposals are drafted. \"No analysis or proposed plans have been developed at this point,\" one district presenter said. \"We are in the beginning phases of this.\"

What officials described: CannonDesign will examine enrollment trends, building capacities and feeder patterns. Community forums will use 32 tables with about six participants per table for guided activities to surface community priorities such as STEM, fine arts or other program emphases. The district will post forum summaries and data on the SMCPS website under the redistricting/data-and-documents section and maintain an email inbox at redistricting@smcps.org. Officials said they are using multiple channels — school S'mores, press releases, and social media — to share information.

Funding and construction context: district staff told the board that building a new school requires state approval through the Interagency Commission on School Construction and that the state typically funds roughly 58% of construction costs. Presenters explained that, to request planning approval for a new school, the system would need to demonstrate that roughly half of the new school's prospective enrollment is already overcrowded elsewhere; given current projections, staff said there is no demonstrated need for a new school in the next several years unless enrollment changes markedly.

Participation and next steps: officials said the forums will be interactive (participants should bring an electronic device), that portions of sessions will be recorded and posted, and that survey #1 will open after the first community forum and run through Oct. 6. Community forum #2 and its associated sessions are scheduled across three locations in November with multiple time slots; registration for that series opens Oct. 13. The district plans periodic redistricting updates at every board meeting through the process.

Officials emphasized that the process is intended to be “planning with the community, not just for it,” and repeatedly cautioned residents against sharing or relying on rumors. \"If somebody says, ‘they're gonna close the school,’ it didn't come from anybody here,\" a presenter said, urging residents to consult the district website for authoritative updates.

Community impact and timeline: district staff said any board action would be timed to allow families notice in advance (target: notify by April 30 for changes that would take effect the next school year). The board and staff also committed to continuing outreach to underrepresented groups and to post FAQ updates as questions arrive.

Ending: The district encouraged all interested residents to read materials on the SMCPS redistricting webpage, register for forum sessions if they plan to attend, and submit comments via the website or redistricting@smcps.org.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","St. Mary's County Public Schools Board of Education Meeting - 09/24/25","oneSentenceSummary","St. Mary’s County Public Schools officials outlined a multi-month redistricting and facility-utilization review, opening two community forums this week and a second round of public meetings in November as contractors analyze enrollment and capacity data.","taxTitle","St. Mary's County Public Schools, School Boards, Maryland","taxId",14203,"location","Maryland","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6460420,"Board approves medication-administration policy; consent agenda passes with one dissent on immunizations",1638,1308000,2946000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5862316-98e9e36bb25ef352127a26f1b246e20f&start=1308&end=2946","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5862316-98e9e36bb25ef352127a26f1b246e20f/thumbnail_1308000.jpg","/articles/6460420/Maryland/Board-approves-medication-administration-policy-consent-agenda-passes-with-one-dissent-on-immunizations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6460420-1ff009185f0987da27b4eef82987e63f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770572340&Signature=ifhqrYn7K46bfqeMCBW40aZeU05Q1UE97PilXXxAbC1V4QSd9Kh-ujttbw3BsAROtt4wSJVuh3MFHMxm-kGtPhwaZU4vjQgh04NbkeOGr1bmxIOuOexuG3Mf4Lc7MFzDJQT7VJtG-5nvwzru2tdmB9xQgZ9MYe3POSTXNyagEmrXROKxOUnZ2eLCTuM7vQYeAPQPcLG~bkRt68hzQRYaAMTU504ujP0NIxyyXLgH0qBHdndKR~1SjwVF9CCoXvqTldTPG9akY4S9tYoZ6I295un1e2JRMlDuKk09Bm7Fp6k1FclLFx4PCjeyZnJUPIRR1KFIYwyV~X3egTr4EhF8lA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The St. Mary's County Board of Education on Sept. 24 approved revisions to policy JHCD (administration of medication to students) and adopted the consent agenda, which included minutes, personnel items and several policies, though one board member opposed the consent agenda over concerns about immunization requirements.

Policy action: board members voted to approve policy JHCD on second reading. Presenters said the policy updates align legal references and clarify family notification about “stock emergency medicines” available at schools; annual notification will occur via the Saint Mary's County Public Schools student handbook and a PowerPoint provided to students (with students in approximately grades 3–12 completing an assessment in Schoology). The presenters said there were no substantive changes to the purpose, policy statement, definitions or review requirements from the previously posted draft, and that no public comments were received during the public-hearing period.

Consent agenda: the consent agenda included approval of Sept. 10 minutes; personnel items; and policies listed as: JE (student attendance), JH (homelessness language revised to say students are \"experiencing homelessness\" and fall under McKinney-Vento), JHCC (immunizations of students), and ACA (educational equity). Board members approved the consent agenda; one board member registered opposition and later explained their vote as a conscience-based objection to the immunization policy.

Dissent and board response: a board member who voted no delivered a public explanation describing personal concerns about the number of required immunizations and noting available waivers; that member said they could not in good conscience approve the immunization policy. A different board member, identifying experience as a former critical care nurse, spoke in favor of vaccines and urged confidence in their safety and effectiveness.

Votes and procedure: both actions were recorded as approved by the board at the meeting. The motion to approve policy JHCD was moved and seconded on the record; the board carried the motion. The consent agenda motion was moved and seconded and carried with one recorded opposition.

What the policy change means: presenters said JHCD’s principal substantive addition is annual notification to families about available emergency medication and the mechanism for that notice (student handbook and related digital materials). No new operational changes to medication administration protocols were identified in the presentation.

Ending: The board will continue to post updated policies and meeting materials on the SMCPS website. The next regular meeting was announced for Oct. 8 with an executive session at 8 a.m. and an open meeting at 9 a.m.

","The St. Mary's County Board of Education approved revised policy JHCD (administration of medication to students) and a consent agenda that included student attendance, homelessness language and immunization policy; one board member voted against the consent agenda citing objections to immunization requirements.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6460425,"SMCPS reports gains in AP participation and passing rates; 42.7% of 2025 graduates passed at least one AP exam",329,3391000,3720000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5862316-98e9e36bb25ef352127a26f1b246e20f&start=3391&end=3720","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5862316-98e9e36bb25ef352127a26f1b246e20f/thumbnail_3391000.jpg","/articles/6460425/Maryland/SMCPS-reports-gains-in-AP-participation-and-passing-rates-427-of-2025-graduates-passed-at-least-one-AP-exam","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6460425-91e7808587fdc598268d8e4b9163bd9e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770575119&Signature=DGP0DNV9XG6GApD6Bh1EKtPwRl6L-21pg8ys2GKXOyl0tecZh72wrGBlqx10AdljSVbLWmIRlJ6FTWii4PsXw7p4j09Xw0-rfqJMU1bGAzyJnvm6GU-ChUAlS103EGiK0ZB00CQasXxOSeerGqdPLBX-FqvvQl-yyU50kfwjxkyLv-mp1vUc5BYbJeXI5kXGbzbMP12HcIaE8jf~6KQSqOKGsDftsMOKsNSvxyL0C-MPlGncCjutW4yo3sjsnc~7EMF6yOZoW5XgPbn99sdzfQpc0wBvwzCP8pPjQTwtnREcEXJrP6fn-l8hcC5grFEdbfcB~dVF5Yn0XQkTJUpwmA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","St. Mary's County Public Schools presented its Advanced Placement (AP) exam results for the 2024–25 school year at the Sept. 24 board meeting, reporting higher participation and improved pass rates across its high schools.

Assistant Superintendent Dr. Colleen Gill and curriculum lead Katie Kortikrax told the board the data, compiled from the College Board, show strong growth in both the number of AP exams taken and the share of exams scored 3 or higher. The district reported that 42.7 percent of the class of 2025 earned at least one passing AP score (a 3, 4 or 5) at some point during high school.

Why it matters: increasing AP access and success can affect college readiness and potential college credit for students. Presenters said the district increased the number of exams taken from roughly 1,800 in prior years to nearly 2,800, while raising the proportion of scores of 3–5.

Key details presented: SMCPS students took 37 different AP exams in May 2025. The district reported score improvements across many subjects and growth in College Board recognitions — AP Scholar, AP Scholar with Honor, and AP Scholar with Distinction. The district also reported increases in students completing AP Seminar and AP Research (the AP Capstone sequence) and noted plans to expand AP course offerings and outreach to underrepresented students, including stronger middle-school preparation and information sessions at each high school.

Presenters stressed that AP exam registration and participation remain optional for families. Dr. Gill encouraged students to take the PSAT in October because those results inform AP potential identifications sent to families before AP course registration. The district said it will continue to broaden course offerings across the three high schools and highlighted two new AP courses planned for the coming year.

On demographic tracking: presenters said the College Board has recently limited demographic fields in its reporting, and that not all previous race/ethnicity breakdowns are available from the College Board’s data this year.

Board members praised the results and emphasized the role of teachers. Student Board Member Vanessa Lee and other board members encouraged increased AP Seminar enrollment as a path to expanding AP Research participation.

Ending: District leaders said they will continue to monitor AP participation and outcomes, expand access where possible, and post related resources on district and College Board web pages.

","St. Mary's County Public Schools presented May 2025 AP exam results showing increased exam participation and higher rates of scores 3–5; the district highlighted growth in AP Scholars, AP Capstone completions, and planned outreach to underrepresented students.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

St. Mary’s schools begin a countywide redistricting process; first community forums set for late September

Board approves medication-administration policy; consent agenda passes with one dissent on immunizations

SMCPS reports gains in AP participation and passing rates; 42.7% of 2025 graduates passed at least one AP exam